International Student Center
321 East Chapman Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92832
USA

Phone: 1.714.992.7078
Fax: 1.714.992.9927
email: isc@fullcoll.edu

employment for f-1

Employment definition: any type of work performed for services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food or any other benefit. If you receive no pay or other benefit for the work performed, this activity is not generally defined as employment, but can be considered to be volunteer work.

Employment Authorization

The most important employment issue that you always need to keep in mind is the issue of legal (or "authorized") versus illegal (or "unauthorized") employment. You must always make sure that any employment you plan to engage in is legal employment.

 

Any unauthorized (i.e. illegal) employment - even for one day - even if you did not know it was illegal - poses a grave threat to your ability to remain in or return to the US. Also, you must always make sure that you have the necessary employment authorization before you begin work, since starting work without prior authorization-even if you receive authorization later-constitutes illegal employment. Employment options for F-1 student status include:

 

On Campus Employment

On campus employment is available to F-1 students who are registered for a minimum of 12 units and who have completed one full semester at Fullerton. You can work on campus up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during holiday and vacation periods. If you have received a job offer on campus, you cannot begin work until you have received a social security card. You need the following documents to apply for a social security card:

 

Off Campus Employment

Off campus employment includes two categories: optional practical training (OPT) and economic hardship employment authorization.

  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a maximum 12 months temporary employment authorization, giving you an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus. You can use OPT during your program of study (pre-completion OPT) or after you complete your program of study (post-completion OPT). To be eligible for the initial 12 month OPT period, you must:
    • be a full-time registered student for at least one full academic year
    • be physically present in the United States
    • be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of application
    • intend to work in a position directly related to the major field of study
  • Economic Hardship Employment Authorization is available in cases where you are able to prove severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control, which arose after obtaining the F-1 student status. To be eligible for this authorization, you must:
    • been in student status for one full academic year
    • be able to document the circumstances causing the economic need
    • If authorized, employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session and may be full-time during the break or vacation periods. Applications must be endorsed by the ISC and submitted to the USCIS for approval. Applications may take up to 90 days to process.